[Intracerebral germinoma developing in the right basal ganglia--report of a case followed up by CTscan and review of the literature (author's transl)].
Recently, a case of intracranial germinoma in the right basal ganglia was experienced in our department. He was a 14-years old boy with left motor hemiparesis. On repeated CT studies (7 times), developmental process of the tumor was observed for about 2 years. The tumor developed from the right putamen and invaded toward it's neighboring area (right basal ganglia, thalamus and hypothalamus). As the tumor grew larger, multiple cysts were formed in the tumor tissue and dislocation of ventricles occurred. On 21 December 1978, right temporal craniotomy was performed and a piece of the tumor was removed. It's tissue was diagnosed as germinoma by pathohistological examination. As the effect of postoperative 60Co irradiation and chemotherapy (Vicristine, CCNU), tumor stain (high density area) on CT scann disappeared and remained only as a well margined low density area. On CT scan in September 1979, recurrence sign was not noted. Clinical features of the germinoma located in the basal ganglia has not been well known, because of it's rarity. As a result of the survey of 7 cases reported in the Japanese literature and our case, it has been made clear that most of them are characterized by motor hemiparesis in the early stage, not accompanied by intracranial hypertension.